Dear colleagues and friends

Time flies and we are coming to the end of 2024. I am excited to share with you some of the key highlights from the past few months such as the IFLA Information Futures Summit (IIFS) in Brisbane that took place from 29 September to 2 October 2024. I hope that all who attended found the Summit invigorating and thought-provoking. For those who could not attend, several recordings are also available in the links here.

Earlier this year, IFLA called upon its members and volunteers to share their inputs for the development of the IFLA Strategy 2024-2029, and this strategy was officially launched at IIFS. The strategy focuses on three impact areas and emphasises future-proofing the organisation. In addition, the 2024 IFLA Trend Report was also released, outlining key challenges and shifts for libraries worldwide. More information on the IFLA Strategy 2024-2029 and the IFLA Trend Report can be found in the attached links.

IFLA has announced an increase in membership fees for the coming year. However, members who join from September 2024, will benefit from free membership for the rest of 2024, lock in the current rate for 2025 and enjoy a 25% discount on registration fees for World Library and Information Congress 2025. This offer is available for new memberships and is valid until December 31, 2024. More information can be found here. In addition, IFLA has opened the IFLA Elections 2025 with pre-nominations closing on 29 November.

As 2024 draws to a close, the Asia-Oceania Regional Division Committee is glad to announce that we have strengthened partnerships through events such as the Management of Library Associations (MLAS) conference and the Chinese Library Annual Conference, and hosted webinars a variety of webinars on topics ranging from rare books and special collections to information integrity. It has been a busy and productive year, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved.

The Committee has also launched a new public LinkedIn account. Many thanks to the committee members for their hard work in setting up and managing this new account. We invite all of you to connect with us to stay updated with the latest news, events, and developments across the region.

Lastly, I would also like to extend my congratulations to Salasiah Abdul Wahab, the Director-General of the National Library of Malaysia, for being conferred the prestigious Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP) title at the Perak State Awards.

As 2024 closes and we look to 2025, stay tuned for further updates.

Soh Lin Li, Chair, Regional Division Committee for Asia, and Oceania